Distributor



Sept. 4, 1923. 1,467.054

A.'C. MENGES DISTRIBUTOR Filed May 21, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Albert CMenges Sept. 4, 1923. 1,467,054

A. C. MENGES DISTRIBUTOR Filed May 21, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, 5

ALBERT C. MENGES, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO'MENGES MOTORS COMPANY, OF GREENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, A CORPORATION OF MISSISSIPPI.

. DISTRIBUTOR.

Application filed May 21, 1920. Serial No. 383,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT C. MENGES,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to distributors for ignition of internal combustion engines and has for an object to provide a distributor having new and improved features of reliability, economy and convenience.

Further object of the invention is to provide a distributor having new and improved means for operating upon, and in conjunction with, both a battery and a magneto.

Further object of the invention is to provide new and improved connections between the moving parts of distributor and the ignitor or spark plug of the engine.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the device comprises certain novel elements, parts, combinations, arrangements and func tions as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a view of the distributor, showing the working parts in plan, with the housing in horizontal section,

Figure 2 is a view of the device taken upon the same plane as Figure 1, showing only a portion thereof and in enlarged detail. 1

Figure 3 a view of the device in end elevation, as indicated by arrow 3 of Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 a view of the housing, in end elevation, as indicated by arrow 4 at Figures 1 and 2 and taken on the plane of line 4 5,

Figure 5 a view of the coil box, in end elevation, as indicated byarrow 5 at Figures 1 and 2 and taken on'the line %5, and

Figure 6 a detail view, in end elevation, of the switch for putting the distributor in communication with either the battery or the magneto supply, and taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2. Y

The improved distributor, which forms the subject matter of this application, is intended to be mounted directly upon the head 10 of the engine and in an L formed by the water jacket 1].. The reason for mounting this adjacent the water jacket and upon the engine head is for the purpose of utilizing the heat of the engine and cooling water jacket 11. It embraces a composite shaft comprising a journal member 13 which carries any approved means, as the bevel gear 14: for taking power from any con venient and appropriate movingpart.

At its opposite end the housing .12 carries a shaft 15 in alignment with the shaft 13. Between the shafts. 13 and 15, and preferably: in alignment therewith, is'a shaft 16 (see Figure 2) associated with and driven from the shaft 13 in, any approved. manner, as by the insulating Oldham couplings 17 and 18; The shaft 16 is. insulated throughout its length by an insulated tubing or covering 19 except that, at appropriate intervals, arms 20, 21, 22 and 23 are rigidly.

secured to the shaft 16 and a collar 24 is rigidly secured thereto, sections of the .insulating material 19 intervening between these several attached members. 16 and its insulation 19 are journaled in any approved manner as by the bearing blocks 25 secured to the housing 12.

The shaft It W111 thus be seen that when the shaft 13 is driven from any appropriate source, as

operator. The T-coupling also carries a contact member 31 adapted to engage in one position the terminal 32 from one source of electrical supply, as for instance the battery, and in another position a terminal 33 from another source of electrical supply, as a magneto shown conventionally atv34 in Figure 1.

The engagementof the contact 31, with a source of electrical supply, and the en gagement of the contact 27 with the sleeve 24 would obviously maintain the shaft16in constant electrical connectionwith a' 'source of electrical energy.

Carried by the housing 12 are a plurality of fastening members 35 in the form of screws or rivets extending through insulating bushings 36 and having heads 37 in position to be put in sparking juxtaposition to the several arms 20 to 23 inclusive as the shaft 16 rotates. The terminal heads 37 are so proportioned that there is a jump-spark gap between such heads and the arms at their nearest point of approach employed for the purpose of strengthening the spark. The several fastening members 35 are each provided with a spring 38 which 'yieldingly bears against the contact 39 of the spark plug 40 'so that the spark, jumping the gap, between either of the supply cams and the appropriate head 37 will be conducted to its respective spark plug to ignite its respective cylinder.

The shaft 15 extends through a casing 41 forming a coil box for the induction coil of the distributor and through the condenser housing 42 and is provided with a cam 43. As shown in the drawings this cam. 43 is located upon the side of the coil and con denser box opposite the distributor mechanism but it is obvious that it may be located upon either side of such box without in any way changing the nature of the-invention and with but minor changes in the structure. WVherever located the cam 43 rotates with the shaft 15, which as has been hereinbefore explained, is rotated with and by the shaft 13. Engaging the cam 43 is an armature 44 adapted to make and break communication with the adjustable contact 45. As shown at Figure 2 the contact 45 is connected with the battery 46 by means of a. split-pin 47 engaging in socket 48, which socket is in direct communication with the battery 46 through the binding post 49.

The socket 48 forms a part of or is in electrical connection with one member 50 of the condenser, the opposite member 51 being likewise integral or in communication with socket 52 similar to the socket 48. The socket 52 is engaged by a split-pin 53 which in turn carries the other end of the lever 44. Both the pins 47 and 53 are preferably rigidly secured in an insulating block 54 which provides a bearing 55 for the shaft 15. So that the members may be conveniently discounected, the shaft 15 is preferably spliced as indicated at 56 so that the section of the shaft 15 designated as 15 in Figure 2 may come away with the block 54 and bearing 55 which is accomplished by simply withdrawing the split pins 47 and 53 from their engaging sockets.

One side of the battery 46 being grounded as indicated at 57 the current passes through the make andbreak lever 44 at its contact and connections as indicated, with the condenser 50 5,1 i shunt. From the pin current passes to the binding post 58 and through the arm 59, to the resistance coil 60. The. resistance coil 60 may be of any appropriate type, and showing the same enclosed in the housing 61 is not intended as a limitation in any way thereon. The resistance coil carries a terminal 62 which is in electrical connection with the primary coil 63 (see Figure 2) through the medium of the terminal 64. The secondary coil .65 is connected with the sprin contact 66, which engages against the head 67 of the terminal 32. From the battery therefore current passes through the make-and-break apparatus embodying the armature 44 through the resistance coil 66 and the primary coil 53. The induced current in the secondary coil 65 is taken off from the spring contact member 66 through the terminal 32 and contacts 31 and 37 to the collar 24 and shaft 16.

The condenser 50-51, as hereinbeforc exalained, is contained in the condenser housing 42 and is separab-ly connected with the coil housing 41 by means of the pins 68 so that not only may the breaker apparatus be disconnected from the condenser box, by re moving the pins 47 and 53 but the condenser box may likewise be removed from the coil box by removing the pins 68. The coil box is carried upon a sleeve 69 integrally or rigidly connected with the disk 7 O which in turn is secured to the casing 12 in any approved manner as by the screws or bolts 71. So that the coil box 41 may be removed from this sleeve when necessary, a split ring 72 is seated in a groove 73 (see Figure 2) which ring may be removed from the groove after the condenser box has been removed and serving as an abutment retains the coil box but when removed permits the removal of the coil box, and when in retaining position permits rotary movement of the coil box.

This rotary movement of the coil box is for the purpose of advancing or retarding the spark and is controlled by a lever 74 and any approved manual connection. it is obvious that the rotation of the coil box and with it the necessary housing and the breaker mechanism will cause the make-andbreak at th contact 45 to occur at different intervals relative to the rotation of the shaft 15, as the armature 44 rotates with the breaker mechanism such motion being permitted by the arcuate formation of the spring contact 66 which slides upon the head 67 of the terminal 32 and maintains continuous contact between the secondary coil and the distributor mechanism. The spark plugs, being, grounded in the usual well-known manner complete the circuit back to the battery 46. For testing the connection and sparking ability of any of th plugs the several spring contacts 38 are provided with handles 75 by the manipulation of which the contact springs 38 may be flexed out of engagement of the terminals 39 of the spark plugs thereby permitting the disconnection of any one plug selectively.

In operation of the shaft 16 and its cams will be rotated from any appropriate source or any appropriate moving part but preferably direct from the engine shaft with the proper gear to insure the rotation of the shaft 16 in proper timed relation with the rotation from the engine shaft.

The engine will be started in the usual manner on battery, taking current from the battery 46 through the several wiring connections heretofore explained with the contact 31 in the position shown at Figures 2 and 6. When the engine has acquired sufficient speed to insure the proper functioning of the magneto the switch will be turned by throwing the contact 31 into engagement with the terminal 33 whereupon the battery will be disconnected and the magneto will furnish the igniting current.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a distributor for electrical ignition mechanism, a distributor shaft, a shaft driven thereby and havinga casing for an induction coil removably positioned thereon, a condenser housing on the shaft removably attached to the casing and, an interrupter adapted for operation by the shaft and removably attached to the con-.

denser housing whereby the interrupter, the condenser housing and the coil casing may be removed successively without disturbing other parts, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ignition mechanism, a casing for an induction coil, a resistance carried thereby, a condenser housing removably attached thereto, an interrupter carried by the housing, a contact device also carried by said housing and having a slip connection with the resistance adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the resistance in removing and replacing the condenser housing on the coil casing, substantially as set forth.

3. In an ignition apparatus a shaft, a casing, an induction coil in the casing, a condenser housing separably attached to the end of the casing, a condenser in the housing entirely surrounding the shaft comprising a' plurality of radial concentric plates, and a make and break device separably attached to the end of the condenser housing.

4. A distributor mechanism comprising, a plurality of spark terminals, a shaft journaled adjacent the spark terminals, arms carried by the shaft proportioned to be moved by the rotation of the shaft in timed relation into sparking juxtaposition with the spark terminals, means to drive the shaft, a make-and-break mechanism carried and actuated by the shaft, a condenser formed of radial concentric plates entirely surrounding the shaft, a source of electrical.

energy in communication with the makeandbreak mechanism and condenser, an induction coil, means connecting the primary of the induction coil with the make-andbreak apparatus means connecting the sec ondary of the coil with the shaft, said condenser having radial extensions at one end toform an electrical connection with the make-and-break apparatus, substantially as set forth.

5. A distributor mechanism comprising, a plurality of spark terminals, a shaft journaled adjacent the spark terminals, arms extending from the shaft upon different radii and adapted to bemoved by the rotation of the shaft into sparking juxtaposition to the spark terminals, various sources of electrical energy, a switch memher having one pole in sliding engagement with the shaft and one pole adapted to connect with the various sources of electrical energy and manual means for'throwing the switch.

6. In a distributor apparatus, a fixed housing, a movable casing, a make and break device on the casing, including a cam, a rotary shaft carrying the cam and passing through the movable casing, a condenser surrounding the shaft, primary and secondary coils also surrounding the shaft, a shaft in the fixedhousing having an arm for each spark plug and in circuit with the secondary coil, and means to oscillate the movable housing and its related parts about the shaft to vary the timing of the spark.

7. In a distributor apparatus, an ignition member, a terminal, a spring carried by the terminal and positioned to bear yieldingly against the ignition member and means to manually deflect the spring from such yielding engagement.

8. In a distributor apparatus, an ignition member, a terminal located adjacent the ignition member, a spring carried by the terminal and normally bearing yieldingly against the ignition member and a handle carried by the spring facilitating manual deflection of the spring from engagement with the ignition member.

9. In a distributor apparatus, a plurality of spark terminals, a shaft journaled adjacent the spark terminals, members carried by the shaft and adapted to be moved by rotation into sparking juxtaposition tothe terminals, a make-and-break apparatus actuated by the shaft and having means for making and breaking a circuit in proper timed relation to the approaches of the sparking apparatus and means to vary the relation of making and breaking to the said approaches comprising a coil box for an induction coil and means to oscillate the box.

10. In a distributor apparatus, a housing, a shaft j ournaled to rotate within the housing and having an extremity extending without the housing, a sleeve embracing the extended extremity, an ignition coil removably positioned upon the sleeve, a condenser housing separably connected with the coil, a make-and-break apparatus separably connected with the condenser housing and an extension shaft section removable with the makeand-break apparatus and when in position connecting with and actuated from the first mentioned shaft.

11. A distributor apparatus comprising a housing, a shaft journaled within the hous ing and having an extremity extending without the housing, a sleeve rigidly secured to the housing and embracing the shaft, an induction coil housing removably positioned upon the sleeve, a condenser housing Separably connected with the coil housing, a make-and-break apparatus removably connected with the condenser housing, a stub shaft carried by the make-andbreak apparatus adapted to be connected with and actuated from the first mentioned shaft and manually controlled means for rotating the make and break mechanism about the axes of rotation of the shaft.

12'. In an ignition device, a distributor shaft, an aligned shaft section carrying a driving gear, another aligned section carrying a make and break cam, and insulating flexible couplings between the sections.

13. In an ignition device, a distributor shaft, an alined shaft section carrying a driving gear, another alined section carrying a distributor cam, and insulated Oldham couplings between the sections, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an upstanding cooling jacket at one side thereof, of a fixed housing contacting with the cylinder and adjacent the cooling jacket and a distributor mechanism carried by the housing, sub stantially as set forth.

15. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an upstanding cooling jacket at one side thereof, of a housing removably positioned adjacent the cooling jacket and providing a completely en closed chamber adapted to fill the space between the cylinders of the engine and the cooling jacket, a shaft journaled to rotate within the chamber, means carried by the shaft for impressing igniting energy upon the ignition members, means without the housing for rotating the shaft and means without the housing for supplying current to be impressed upon the ignition members, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Memphis, Tennessee, this 10th day of May, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty.

ALBERT C. MENGES. [1,. s] lVitnesses:

JOHN W. FARLEY, F. M. BAILEY. 

